Combination cigarette container, lighter, and dispenser



R. MAYER 2,299,836 COMBINATION CIGA RETIE CONTAINER, LIGHTER,AND DISPENSER- Oct. 27, 1942.

- Filed May 5, 1941 INVENTOR RICHARD MAYER Q M,

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 27, 1942 UNIT-ED STAT-ES ear-ear oetics COMBINATION CIGARETTE CONTAINER, LIGHTERyAND DISPENSER L Richard Mayer, New Rochelle, N. Y., assignor to Masterbilt Products Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 5, 1941, Serial No.391,943

6 Claims.

in electrical consumption, andwhich is efficient and satisfactory in the performance of its intended functions.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combinationof parts pr-esentlydescribed and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a reduced perspective view of a combination cigarette container, lighter, and dispenserconstru'cted in accordance with and embodying my present invention; v

Figure 2 is a sectional *view' of the structure taken approximatelyon"the line, 2-2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is asectional view of the structure taken approximately on the line 3-3, Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view of the structure taken approximately on the line 44, Figure 3, with the ejector in normal position; and

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 4, but with the ejector in shifted ejecting position.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, the structure includes a preferably metallic box-shaped shell or housing A of suitable dimensions and preferably of oblong-rectangular contour in plan view, shell A comprising a front wall I, a rear wall 2, opposite side walls 3, 3, and a bottom wall 4, all suitably fixed permanently together in box or shell formation. A suitable top wall or lid 5 is Hinged, as at 6, to and at the upper mar-gin of sidewalls 3, 3'; for swingable closure of shell A, and, as shown, the.rear wall 2 and the. side walls 3, 3', in their rear portions are extendedndownwardly, asat a, a, respectively, and bottom wall 4 is reduced in width relatively to lid 5- and downwardly co-operativelyflanged,

0-, between the slide-members -8, 8, being also approximately equal to the diameter of the standard cigarette C, all as best seen in Figure 4,

engaging portion I3 of suitable dimensions proas at 1, leading from, and in open communication with, shell A.

Reciprocatorily shiftable within shell A forwardly and rearwardly over bottom wall l and chute I, is a slide B comprising members 8, 8,

of approximately inverted U-shape in section and of a height approximately equal to the diameter of a standard cigarette C, the members 8, 8, being permanently fixed togetherin spaced parallel relation by side walls 9, 9, and the space, as at The side walls 9, 9, of slide B have a length to extend from shell front wall I to adjacent the rear end of bottom wall 4 or, in other words, toadjacent the chute I, as best seen in Figure 4, and having its opposite end portions coiled,

' as at ID, on a shaft I I suitably fixed in the shell side walls 3, 3, to impinge the shelllrear Wall 2, and intermediate its said end portions having impinging engagement, as at I2, with the slide B, is a suitable spring S for yieldingly retaining the slide B in, and returning the same to, its normal or forward position in abutting relation to the shell front wall I or in the position thereof shown in Figures 2 and l. When the slide B is in such normal position, as will be seen, the space or channel 0 is disposed over the shell bottom wall 4, and a pusher-extension or fingerjects for movement forwardly through a corresponding opening, as at I4, provided for the purpose in the shell front wall I.

Suitably-fixed to and within, and extending partly horizontally and obliquely with respect to,

the shell A to cover and conceal the shaft II, spring S, and chute "I and dimensioned for cooperation at its lower margin with slide B for also closing :chutel when the slide B is in normal forwardly projected position, is a supplemental shell wall I5.

D designates a supplemental shell having the shape and contour best seen in Figures 3 and 4 'andconstructed preferably of a suitable section (1 of metallic sheet material arcuately doubled upon itself and obliquely shaped intermediate its ends, as at I6, and having its ends, as at IT, I1, disposed flatwise upon and fixed to the bottom wallflange a and rear wall extension at, as best I seenin Figures 4 and 5.

It may be mentioned here that the supple mental shell or tray D is fully insulated, as at I8, from the main shell A, and at.its.one or right as at 11 in" the-provisionof a discharge ohute fifi hand end' under the sidewall. 3!: of the shell A,

the supplemental shell or so-called tray D is cut away in the provision of a constantly open mouth, as at IQ, of dimensions to permit convenient finger gripping of a cigarette c deposited therein, as presently more fully appears.

Completing the opposite or larger or apex side of the tray D, is an end wall 20, which is suitably marginally fixed to, or integral with, the section d, and which for the most part is in aligning registration with the opposite shell side wall 3, as best seen in Figure 3, the wall 20 at its lower end portion, as at 20, being bent or formed to bliqu'ely extend approximately at right angles to the base of the rounded or arcuate bottom 16 of tray D and the main or body section 01 of tray D being conformingly contoured, all asshown in Figure 3 and for purposes presently appearing.

Suitably disposed upon the inner face of wallportion 23' and presented inwardly with respect to tray D, is a lighting element E suitably electrically grounded on one side, as at 2|, upon the metallic wall 20 and on its other side adapted for inclusion in the electric circuit of the automobile by means of an electrically communicating binding-post 22 and conductor 23.

Fixed electrically at its one or lower end upon the tray D to freely upstand within the shell A with its free upper end adjacent the shell rear wall 2 and in the path of travel or reciprocation of the slide B, is a conductor 24, and in use and operation, the shell A may be very conveniently attached and mounted, as by means of a suitable bracket F, upon the steering post or column of the automobile, when the shell A will be suitably grounded on the automobile, as will be well understood.

The cigarettes C to be dispensed are disposed in a suitable quantity upon the slide B and within the shell A, the slide B being in normal or forwardly disposed position, as in Figures 2 and 4, the space or channel 0 being filled by a single particular cigarette c, and the slide B and fixed wall l providing a complete closure for the traychute I. And when the slide B is in such normal or forward position, the lighting element E is deenergized, the conductor 24 being out of electrical engagement with the shell-Wall 2 and the circuit to the element B being broken, as shown in Figure 4.

Now, to obtain a housed cigarette c, the slide B is projected rearwardly through finger engagement with the extension l3 against the pressure exerted thereon by the spring S. In such movement of the slide B, the one cigarette 0 moves with the slide B rearwardly in the shell A and, as the space or channel c is disposed over the chute i, is discharged into the chute 1 and falls by gravity into the tray D and lengthwise upon the oblique rounded bottom It thereof, with one end abutting against the element E and with its other end presented for convenient gripping in the tray mouth l9, all as best seen in Figure 3.

In such movement of the slide B, the conductor 24 is yieldingly shifted into electrical engagement with the grounded shell rear wall 2. Under such engagement, the circuit to the lighting element E is closed and element E energized for cigarette lighting.

Further, in such slide movement, the slide extension l3 moves into the shell A and prevents any of the contained cigarettes C falling into the returning path of movement of the slide B, as indicated in Figure 5.

The one cigarette .0 having been thus lighted and removed from the tray D and pressure on slide-extension I3 removed, the slide B yieldingly, under the energy of spring S, returns to normal or forward position. In such returning movement, the finger-grip extension 13 assumes its normal forwardly presented position, the channel 0 is presented for occupancy by a second cigarette, the conductor 24 moves automatically or yieldingly out of engagement with the shell wall 2, and the circuit to the element E is broken, it being, of course, understood that the shiftable movements of the slide B are limited by engagement of the slide-members 8, 8, with the opposite front and rear walls I and 2 of the shell.

The structure fulfills in every respect the objects stated, and it is to be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the structure may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cigarette container and dispenser comprising a shell having a front wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a bottom wall, said side walls in their rear portion and said rear wall having downwardly presented extensions and said bottom Wall being reduced in length relative to the length of the side walls and flanged downwardly at its rear margin for co-operation with the extensions of the side and rear walls in the provision of a discharge chute, a tray fixed to and underlying the shell and chute, a slide movable within the shell and over said bottom wall and including members spaced for providing an open channel for receiving the contained cigarettes one by one therebetween from the shell for shifting the same over the shell bottom wall and the chute for movement successively through the chute into the tray, and means for actuating the slide in discharging direction.

2. A cigarette container and dispenser comprising a shell having a front wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a bottom wall, said side walls in their rear portion and said rear wall having downwardly presented extensions and said bottom wall being reduced in length relative to the length of the side walls and flanged downwardly at its rear margin for co-operation with the extensions of the side and rear walls in the provision of a discharge chute, a tray fixed to and underlying the shell and chute, a slide having an open channel movable within the shell and over said bottom wall and chute for successively shifting the contained cigarettes from the shell and into said chute for discharge into the tray, wall means within the shell projecting over the chute and co-operable with the slide for preventing movement of the contained cigarettes into said chute when the slide is in normal position, and means for actuating the slide in discharging direction.

3. A cigarette container and dispenser comprising a, shell having a front wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a bottom Wall, said side walls in their rear portion and said rear wall having downwardly presented extensions and said bottom wall being reduced in length relative to the length of the side Walls and flanged downwardly at its rear margin for co-operation with the extensions of the side and rear walls in the provision of a discharge chute, a tray fixed to and underlying the shell and chute, a slide having an open channel movable within the shell and over said bottom wall and chute for successively shifting the contained cigarettes from the shell and into said chute for discharge into the tray, a supplemental wall obliquely disposed within the shell for co-operation with the slide for preventing movement of the contained cigarettes into said chute when the slide is in normal position, said supplemental wall at its lower margin being in approximate vertical registration with the rear margin of said bottom wall, and means for actuating the slide in discharging direction.

4. A cigarette container and dispensercomprising a shell having a front wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a bottom wall, said side walls in their rear portion and said rear Wall having downwardly presented extensions and said bottom Wall being reduced in length relative to the length of the side walls and flanged downwardly at its rear margin for co-operation with the extensions of the side and rear walls in the provision of a discharge chute, a tray fixed to and underlying the shell and chute, a slide having an open channel movable within the shell and over said bottom wall for successively shifting the contained cigarettes from the shell and into said chute for discharge into the tray, said front wall having an opening, a spring having engagement with the shell and with the slide for yieldingly retaining the slide in, and returning the same to, normal position, and a pusher-extensionon the slide movable through said front wall opening for both actuating the slide in discharging direction against the pressure of said spring and preventing cigarettes within the shell from moving into the returning path of travel of the slide when the slide is in cigarette-discharging position.

5. A cigarette container and dispenser comprising a shell having an apertured front wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a bottom wall, said side walls in their rear portion and said rear wall having downwardly presented extensions and said bottom wall being reduced in length relative to the length of the side walls and flanged downwardly at its rear margin for cooperation with the extensions of the side and rear walls in the provision of a discharge chute, a tray fixed to and underlying the shell and chute, a

shell and over said bottom Wall for successively shifting the contained cigarettes from the shell and into said chute for discharge into the tray, means including a spring having engagement with the shell and with the rear wall of the slide for yieldingly retaining the slide in, and returning the same to, normal position, a supplemental wall obliquely disposed within the shell for concealing said spring and co-operable with the slide for preventing movement of the contained cigarettes into said chute when the slide is in normal position, said supplemental wall at its lower margin being in approximate vertical registration with the rear margin of said bottom wall, and a member projecting for movement through the aperture of the front wall for actuating the slide in discharging direction.

6. A cigarette container and dispenser comprising a, shell having an apertured front wall, a rear Wall, opposite side Walls, and a bottom wall, said side walls in their rear portion and said rear wall having downwardly presented extensions and said bottom wall being reduced in length relative to the length of the side walls and flanged downwardly at its rear margin for tom wall and spaced tapering parallel side Walls cut away adjacent the chute in the provision of an open mouth for presenting an end of a discharged cigarette for finger-engagement, and a member projecting for movement through the aperture of the front wall for actuating the slide in discharging direction.

RICHARD MAYER. 

